Hawke won a Rhodes Scholarship to attend University College, Oxford, where he began a Bachelor of Arts course in philosophy, politics and economics (PPE).[24] He soon found he was covering much the same ground as he had in his education at the University of Western Australia, and transferred to a Bachelor of Letters course. He wrote his thesis on wage-fixing in Australia and successfully presented it in January 1956.[25]

I recall that Bob Hawke didn't need to become PM to be the most powerful man in Australia, and even NZ. as President of the ACTU. I was first a shunter at Port Melbourne docks,. and then a locomotive engineman driving trains out of South Dynon yard (Melbourne) for Vic Rail in the 70's. Our pay and conditions were downright extraordinary. WE loved Bob, and so did the NZ wharfies who got him to declare during one of their regular strikes that if the NZ wharfies demands were not met he would shut down shipping in the pacific basin. The wharfies got their deal! He was an interesting bloke, intelligent, complicated. and a bit of shit from time to time, but jeez he changed Oz for the better as PM, IMHO.

Yes I'm afraid they played to the stereotype Brits like to have about Aussies that they are idiots. That way they can look down on them. It's perfectly obvious even from the clip they showed that Hawke was having a joke.

yeah still watch it, still astounded at the quality...the more I know about politics/

Nothing wrong with swearing or nudity. It wasn't the lack of those that made the program great.

How many comedies have nudity? Can't think of many...

Why is there always some bluenose who thinks that there is something wrong with swearing and nudity making such irrelevant comments?

Hiding the fact you're self-deprecating isn't a very self-deprecating thing to do now is it!

@@jakechinn6561 You've a point there!

Being self-deprecating allows us to brag in a very discreet manner. We don’t like to be brash and brazenly attention seeking.

oh the telethons...

Sophisticat hmmm.... you don’t watch much Brit Com.. do you? But have to agree, this was brilliant.. but one of the best... and its all thanks to the Monty Python team for changing the face of British comedy..🤔🧐🙂

do tell more!

Acting is not just about ranting long dialogues. No offence to Nigel, I love him but Paul was more than just rants.

Eddington was brilliant. Period.

Don't let the facts get in the way of a cheap joke.

Definitely one of the most popular shows to be on Aussie TV, but I doubt our current PM re-watches it continually like I do!! :D

@@EveryoneWhoUsesThisTV This was so dishonest of the documentary I had to stop it for a second and rewind to ensure I'd heard correctly. It's a lie for the purpose of a quick and rather cheap gag. I disliked Hawke's policies but he clearly knew who Eddington was. Hawke was a Rhodes Scholar, hardly the kind of person who believes TV sitcom characters are real.

with great pleasure ı might add.

Murat gençkal I am watching it again as well!!!

This with Hancock and On the Hour

timeless

And still bloody relevant!

You forgot to thank Derek Fowlds, who is still with us, and was 82 last month.

Where are your thanks for Derek Fowlds?

Faisal Arab so true! Even in 2020

Sadly Derek Fowlds has sadly passed

Ah there's a reason for the 'premier' reference: the English will on occasion refer to their prime minister as the premier. In Australia this makes no sense as we have six state premiers!! But in my experience the English have limited knowledge of Australian state politics.

That's because, for all the superb technical skills of YM interpreters, political settings (people sitting around and talking) just naturally result in what is effectively a radio play in pictures. Compare it with West Wing, which fought hard to avoid that fate by injecting constant movement and a lot of physical gags: they ended up with what is clearly a more visual and vigorously cinematic product, which simply wouldn't work as an audiobook.

@@supertoyg Quite a few TV comedies were first tried out on radio

I did not know that it was available on audible. That is interesting to me and I thank you for that sir.

Nup.

Nigel and Derek.

I was shocked when I heard this nonsense too. The program had credibility up to that point, unless that claim was some sort of obscure comedy in itself.

Indeed, Hawke was a Rhodes scholar. The suggestion he was an idiot is plainly a nonsense.

The series was well scripted, understated and restrained. Pity the same qualities did not extend to this review program.

To say it was a gross exaggeration is to put it very mildly. I'm no Labor supporter, but I find the breathtaking audacity of this claim baffling. Bob Hawke, a Rhodes scholar was anything but an idiot, and only an idiot would claim otherwise.

...running Heaven.

@@capcompass9298 lets hope they run heaven better than the current civil service runs the country

The quintessential quite English gentlemen who steady the ship when it could have run aground very quickly... the Brits always give a gentle nod to brilliant people but never elevate them until it’s too late..🤔🧐😕

I missed that announcement, very sadly missed and he was a prince among men. R.I.P Derek.

FOWLDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and israel-Palestine issue

@Aussie Pom I doubt someone who has been an outspoken CND member for 50 years would be so trigger happy about nuclear Armageddon 🤷🏼‍♂️

Yes, but he wasn't supposed to just say it.

@@sirravixfourhorn7681 the constitutional crisis if Corbyn had been elected PM would have been huge. I would imagine the Queen saying no to him forming a government!

It just matters that the other side believe you might.

First rule in politics: never believe anything until it's officially denied.

Hawke had a sense of humour and loved a good laugh. Doesn't make him stupid. God, we should all be so dumb.

I'd say it will still be relevant in 200 years time.

demonella preserving the status quo is important. The defender of the status quo in the US is The Deep State or “The Swamp”.

Given the show is as politically accurate today as 30-40 years ago, and as I type the author says they looked at events from the 1960s, so make that 60+ yrs, the civil service have succeeded!!

The presenter of this show is comedy writer Armando Ianucci who went on to write The Thick Of It, a comedy what did for Blair/Cameron era politics what Yes Minister did for Thatcher era politics.

what is funny about preparing for the worst? Nobody knew but scientists were predicting a rabid virus consuming half of UK. It didn't but we were as prepared as we could be if it happened. Just think of your outrage if it was required and not built???

Luckly there was VEEP which of course was written by him.

It is because you thrown upon these things you have the desire to change.

G Colman I had just learned Ianucci wrote VEEP but didn’t know his connection to Yes Minister.

All governments operate by cock-up mitigation.

All governments operate by cock-up mitigation.

Gough outshone Hawke in every way. But today we have dictatorship. So it was all for nought.

Porridge, Open All Hours, Fools & Horses, Steptoe & Son.

don't forget rising damp, porridge, fall and rise of reginald perrin, love they neighbour, 2.4 children, there are literally 100's of totally brilliant series. Pity they can only throw up weak imitations now

Your personal politics should not factor in to putting on a bit of entertainment. The real problem was how poorly written the scetch was.

@@paulgaither They also felt they were being used for a PR stunt.

@@YesMinisterMuseum - Clearly they were. That would have been a better arguement than simple politics.

@@paulgaither Well, it was written by Bernard Ingham, no wonder it was utter rubbish.

I don't understand exactly why most of actor and people of art are leftists... Right is right for a reason.

Au contraire, "Oui Ministre" surely.

Au contraire, "Oui Ministre" surely.

Au contraire, "Oui Ministre" surely.

Could not agree more, it was simply yet another example of Poms putting down their "colonial subservients". The sooner Australia becomes a republic the better.

@@brucie-of-bangor528 I remember it was a rumour spread by the British tabloid press that Hawkie was fooled (and that they called him a premier, duh). This narrator was sucked in by his own gullibility to his own local media.

if he gets us out he will be regarded as great. You would have preferred corbyn?

If you want an insight into Australia's view on politicians, strongly recommend Jenny Talia, 'Bunch of Parasites'.

It is music from the movie "Charade" which is very appropriate when you think about it!